Northern Michigan University - Smoking Survey Results

Keywords A to Z People

2008 Smoking Survey

Smoking Survey Results

Non-Student Non-Smoker Comments

2010 is way too late. 2009 much more reasonable. Smokers will abuse any "special area" and it would be very naive to think smokers would stay in their cars with their windows closed. This is a major HEALTH issue, and while I applaud your efforts, I'm worried you will try to placate smokers to the extent that the policy won't have enough teeth. If you're going to do it, go all the way with zero tolerance.
75% of people do not smoke. The remaining 25% of the population should not dictate teh health of the majority. Smokers do not want to be inconvienced to get off ther backsides to go to a place that is provided to smoke and this should be the way there rights are preserved.
A campus smoking policy should NOT address what individuals do in their own vehicles, regardless of whether their windows are up or down. I make this assertion on the basis of, "Don't make laws you can't enforce."
A completely smoke-free campus is the only way to curtail its impact. However, I do think you need to allow smoking in personal vehicles. Without some outlet for their habit, as demonstrated by MGH, smokers are likely to spill across the street to residential neighbors or businesses. That activity, and the remnants they leave behind, would justifiably build resentment and tarnish town-gown relations. But vehicles are the only places smoking should be allowed. It has already been demonstrated that efforts to limit smoking to restricted areas on campus (30 feet from buildings, etc.) don't work. People extend the boundaries and there's little/no enforcement as a deterrent. Enforcement will be a huge issue in making any of these efforts successful. Also, will there be proactive, complementary activities on campus such as smoking cessation clinics or other things designed to help people quit or find the resources for doing so? It would make the university look better than simply outlawing an act with no recognition of the underlying nicotine addiction that makes it necessary.
A smoke free campus is a great idea! Presently smokers stand right next to outside doors forcing the rest of us to inhale strong doses of secondary smoke.
a smoke free campus seems much too difficult to enforce. We should appeal to common courtesy (as the library did in its cell phone policy) Signage to discourage smokers from smoking near buildings, etc.
A smoke-free campus fits very well with the Northern. Naturally. theme, and I have had campus visitors comment that it seems like a relatively high number of students smoke on our campus. Perhaps that's an artifact of right-to-try admissions policy, or the first generation, blue-collar background of many students. Potential students who are already smokers may either see a smoking ban as a positive (it will help them quit) or a negative (they're not going to tell me what to do). Requiring students to live on campus is the heart of the problem. MGHS phased in a ban, but all their employees can go home to smoke. Students living on campus would have no other home to go to. Before implementing a policy, I would consider what other public universities in Michigan are doing. I would hate to put NMU at a disadvantage. Perhaps smoking shelters is a good temporary solution, but I would have an exit strategy. I imagine it will be very expensive to heat, ventilate and clean the shelters.
A smoking shelter would not work because most of the smokers do not go 30' away from the builodings and use the smoking pots that are curently in use and a failed attempt to move smokers away from the buildings. If we do not enforce the current rules or any new ones it is going to be a waste of time and effort to move forward with any change.
A very sensitive topic for some. However, I feel it is a step in the right direction considering that some Marquette establishments are smoke-free and some major cities are also smoke-free.A smoke-free university demonstrates the university's committment to a healthy student body and mind.
According to the Americans for nonsmokers' rights orginization (http://www.no-smoke.org/)*ANY* level of inhalition of second-hand smoke is potentially dangerous. This includes studies where non-smokers blood was tested before and after being subjected to the CLOTHS of smokers (NOT EVEN direct second hand smoke). This means that when a person who is a smoker sits down next to YOU and you SMELL the cigarette smoke YOU have been subjected to harmful chemicals WITHOUT your approval. Think about that for a few minutes.
although I am a non-smoker, I feel that smokers who are outside the buildings are not interfering with my safety or inconvenience me in any way.
Although I am not a smoker, I still think this plan is too restrictive. Like it or not, smoking is legal in the U.S.A.,and smoking is a legal activity for those people who are 18 or over. They have the right to exercise their freedom of choice. People shouldn't be subjected to second-hand smoke--those rights need to be respected too. The challenge is finding this balance that respects the rights and needs of both groups--smokers and non-smokers alike.
Any policy or practice which actively or passively encourages smoking on campus is tantamount to condoning assault. It permits the perpetuation of lifelong poor health, increases campus healthcare and maintenance costs,serves as bad examples to young people, diminishes disposable income, pollutes the earth and air, and decreases productivity. NMU's obligations to society and the campus community significantly outweigh any personal freedom of choice regarding this issue.
Any time you walk by a smoker...who is smoking...you end up breathing in their secondhand smoke. Unless you hold your breath till you're far enough away from them to not be in their smoke-cloud. Smoking in a vehicle with it's windows up is a compromise but let's get real....who in their right mind would smoke in a vehicle without rolling DOWN the windows...even a little bit?
anybody who proposes banning smoking in private vehicles must be smoking something other than tobacco
As a former smoker I would support designated areas away from entrances. I'd prefer totally smoke-free but can appreciate the needs of the addicted.
As a previous smoker I don't have a problem with the shelters in order to keep smoke away from building doorways and hopefully there would be containers to dispose of the cigarettes. I can't stand walking through smoke to enter a building and the butts littered on the ground. I don't think you should deny an indiviudal of smoking in their own personal vehicle - that's their own personal space although I wouldn't want to smoke without the window open but that's their choice.
As a professor, I find the number of students currently smoking or beginning to smoke very disturbing. A smoke free NMU gets my vote.
As an asthmatic, the smokers standing near the doors are bothersome, even dangerous. The smokers who go the thirty feet from the entranceways are no problem for me. Obviously, I wish the youngsters wouldn't start in the first place but that's not my decision, as they are adults. And there are folks who have been smoking for a long time and they deserve their rights too.
As an environmentally concerned campus, this fits right in
As far as private vehicles goes it is the owners decision to smoke in it. and decide if they want the windows up or not. We have areas on campus where people have smoked in front of air intakes and caused problems in buildings. Its been a constant complaint for years that smokers get more breaks from work than people who do not smoke do. If nmu could make it mandatory no smoking especially for employees this might help a few of them quit. Every one that quits has got to help our medical a little bit.
As former smoker and present gum chewer, I have some sympathy for people who are still smoking. It is legal. Also heavily taxed. It is bad enough now in midwinter having to stand outside freezing because one has a bad habit. Don Dreisbach
As long as buildings remain smokefree and smokers go outside, I have no problem and do not believe it would be right to ban them from smoking outside.
As long as people are smoking outside and there is fresh air to disperse the smoke, does it really matter.
As repulsive as I find smoking to be, and the difficulty smokers may have in trying to quit, I think they probably should be allowed to smoke on campus, but farther from building entrances. I think parking lots and their own vehicles should be allowed (at least).
At one time I was a smoker so I realize the addictive nature of the habit. While I would like to be supportive of smoker's rights (since smoking is legal), I think it is just as important that they recognize the rights of non-smokers as well. Providing designated shelters away from doorways sounds like a wonderful solution. Unfortunately, without strict enforcement and stiff penalities I believe people will continue to smoke wherever they wish. That is truly the problem we encounter right now.
Because addiction recovery is not a simple process, an abrupt change would amount to cruelty toward those addicted to nicotine. Re. question 4, announcement well ahead of implementation would be appropriate, allowing those who do not wish to attend a smoke-free school opportunity to make other plans and giving faculty/staff a chance to do so as well.
Because of health concerns, I completely support going smoke-free as soon as possible.
Before my career at NMU I was a public health professional specializing in tobacco prevention and education. Firstly, I would be happy to offer my professional opinion as a volunteer consultant for this project. As NMU staff I support a smoke-free campus 100%. The negative health effects of cigarette smoke and second cigarette smoke have been irrefutably demonstrated. For the health of NMU students, faculty and staff a smoke-free campus is the only logical decision. Fortunately, it is also the most economical choice for campus -- reducing fire risk, long term health effects of faculty and staff on NMU's health insurance plan and creating a more desirable atomosphere for incoming students looking for universities with progressive health policies. I also do not support special shelters for smokers. One of the best things about a smoke-free campus is creating an environment where it is inconvenient, if not difficult to smoke. Many smokers I counseled told me that the anti-smoking attitude of the majority is was a large motivator in deciding to quit smoking. Good luck with this important and LIFE SAVING project! Kristi Kangas, M.P.H., M.S.W
Campus should be completely smoke free, no acceptions!
Campus should be smoke free. Private cars an exception.
Cigarettes are legal in the US (of course, only if you are 18 or older). I do not think it is appropriate to mandate that US citizens are unable to do something on our campus that is legal. I support having all buildings be smoke-free, so that other people's rights are respected. I think we need to find some way to create shelters - they benefit both smokers AND non-smokers, since the shelters would "protect" people from second-hand smoke. So I think it is fair to share the cost, and do not believe that this is favoring smokers. In addition, part of the basis of our society in the US is to not persecute minorities (e.g., smokers). I believe that by eliminating the right to smoke on campus, you would be persecuting smokers.
Don't try to legislate morality in outdoor space even if there are valid health issues.
Don't waste money to solve a problem just do it, no smoking on university property or go soft and impliment a larger distance from the buildings; to 50ft instead of the 30ft that it is now. Then inforce it!
ETS (environmental tobacco smoke) is a CLASS A CARCINOGEN. In addition to the health risk to all human beings on campus, I see no way that an employer can allow any employee to be exposed to this anywhere at our workplace and not risk suits for the damage done. Even residue left by smoke is toxic. Please get us away from it entirely!!!
Even thou I'm not a smoker, I don't think you could make campus outside of buildings or greounds non smoking enforceable. Public Safety doesn't enforce the rules they now have control of.How IS Public Safety going to enforce this? Look at how many fire doors are propped open? Safety Meeting have not worked to slove issues until MIOSHA steps on Campus. Look at what Public Safety did at JXJ to keep the smokers away from the air vents. A stupid ulgy concrete block wall. They didn't want to enforce the non smoking rules there. Now its ugly around the building where all the NEW student recruits have oreintation. How do the Parents view this site? Pick a better cause to make campus a better place for new students and parents to see. Again I'm not a smoker, but pick something that can be managed properly. Public Safety won't enforce it if it gets passed.
Every smoking complaint will be directed to Public Safety, it happened to the MGH Security Officers when MGH went smoke free. I'm possitive it will happen at NMU.
Everyone has rights to what they believe in theres. I do not smoke but believe in this. NMU as well as other establishments should provide space for smoking that does not infringe on others. An imaginary line, as in resturaunts, is not enough. Those that are complaining about smoke, how many times do they visit business that permit smoking yet, still remain in there by their own volition. However, when they are here at NMU they want to extend their control of others. Now smokers can't even smoke outside, when will it all end? I can see it then, "You're not dressed right, you can't enter" "You're not our kind (color) you can't enter" We are headed back to segregation of society, when we should be integrating, and looking at ourselves; Are we being hypocrites, YES.
First I don't smoke. But for people who work here - it's their choice if they want to smoke and they go outside. Who is going to police them to not smoke? Do they have to close themselves off in a car or would they have to walk to across campus to a 'shelter' if one is not by their building.
For better or worse, students, faculty, and staff are going to smoke. The current permiter around the buildings is adequate, but not enforced. I think making the campus smoke-free treats smokers as second-class citizens which is not right. You should raise awareness of the concern and encourage smokers to respect the perimeter around building entrances. Then let it be.
For comfort and health, (as a nonsmoker)I would personally like to see NMU go smoke free. However, it has been challenging for MGH to enforce this. I am concerned about enforcement. As it is, people do not adhere to the 30 feet from entrance rule. I am nervous about the impact that may have on students choosing to come to NMU.
Go cold turkey!
Go smoke free!
Go smoke free,no question,s asked,there,s enough information on this subject and if they want to continue to do it issue them a plastic bag to put over one,s head and let em smoke in it.
Going smoke free is a wonderful and healthy idea.
Going smoke free would be great! It would start to catch us up with many metropolitan areas in the country. If we do not go smoke free we should at least enforce the no smoking in buildings and within 30 feet of buildings. I get disturbed when I walk out of a building and am met with a big cloud of smoke from the 3 people who were lighting up on their way out the door. Also have witnessed people smoking in the dome after dome hours.
Great Idea. Would set NMU apart from all others. That's a good thing.
Great initiative!
Having areas for smoking outside is only partially effective at best. Many people don't follow policy on where to smoke and expose the rest of us to second hand smoke. Little reinforcement of this policy is a problem.
Having smoking by the doors of buildings is not a good thing. The signs are in the wrong places and instead of them smoking away from the building, they smoke infront of the doors!
How difficult would it be to inforce a no smoking outdoor policy? Would they get a ticket with a fine? Would it cost the University money to inforce this policy vs utilizing officer time with more important manners. Food for thought.
How have we become so intolerant? I am an ex-smoker, but this whole issue makes me so angry that I might start again! I'm all for not offending the non-smokers, but not being able to smoke outside is getting a bit ridiculous. How about banning coffee drinking on campus as well? I really dislike the smell of coffee.
How will this be enforced? What penalties for violation? What portion of our finite resources will this policy consume?
I agree with allowing smoking in private areas such as personal vehicles.
I agree with the workplace being smoke free. There should also be designated outside areas, such as in the backs of buildings, for smokers. But get real, isn't it more about the "publicity" of being smoke free? Are you next going to come after my vices? People need to grow up.
I am *very* bothered by inconsiderate smokers congregating around building doorways throughout the NMU campus. For example, I am forced to breath second-hand smoke nearly every time I enter Jamrich Hall. And what's worse, these smokers often give me challenging looks, as if *I* represent the real problem. I strongly support a smoke-free campus.
I am 100% in favor of making NMU a smoke-free campus (although I do think people should have the right to smoke in their own vehicle). For health and economic issues, this is an easy call, one we should make quickly.
I am a non smoker and would really like a smoke free campus, but it is a freedom of choice.
I am a non-smoker and completely support smoke-free restaurants, stores and work-places. As much as I would love a smoke-free campus; I am worried that not allowing smoking ANYWHERE on campus may hurt the university's ability to recruit students and off-campus events and more importantly; impede on our personal rights. In order for me to be in support of such policies, I would need there to be reliable research which documents the ill effects of smoking in 'open' spaces and/or maybe relaxing the smoking restrictions to "private vehicles regardless of whether the windows are open or closed".
I am a non-smoker and I get irritated even when the 30 feet away from the entrance is not followed. I don't think I should have to smell cigarette smoke when I enter or leave an NMU building.
I am a past smoker for 16 years. I quit almost 25 year ago. It was very hard to do. But am fine now. I however, do not want to be around smokers.
I am against shuttle bus shelters being used for smoking because non-smokers using the shuttle will be subjected to the smoking.
I am all for a smoke free environment. However, I think that we are invading a person's privacy by including their personal vehicle.
I am an ex-smoker. I chose on my own accord to quit. It is unfortunate that many think we should force quitting when this is a free country. If we don't want it in the buildings, then provide an area for the smokers, but don't eliminate it. I think that Harrington fellow is cursading in the wrong way. By completely eliminating smoking then it forces people to do it illegally.
I am an x-chain-smoker and cannot stand to be in a room with smokers - it makes me sick to my stomach (thank the GOOD LORD)! I know what it takes to quit smoking and have the DEEPEST sympathy for smokers because I really do not believe they would all continue smoking if were easy to quit. Smoking is an addiction and smokers should not be persecuted because they are addicted. A few smoking shelters around campus should suffice - make it difficult but not impossible. Maybe you can get the tobacco companies to front the money for the shelters or smokers themselves for that matter (I, a non-smoker, do not want to pay for smokers to have a place to smoke). Thank you.
I am higly supportive of banning smoking on campus. It is just a fact that smoke cannot be contained from other people, and it is a known carcinogen. With all the safety regulations and concerns on campus, do we really want to knowlingly keep supporting the exposure of the faculty/staff/students to carcinogens??
I am in full support of going smoke-free on a designated date rather than in a graduated fashion. If we are going to make this a smoke-free campus, do it at once not in small increments.
I am in full support of NMU going smoke-free as soon as possible.
I am in total support of my rights as a non-smoker to never have to breath smoke. I am in total support of smokers right to smoke... I think some kind of allowance for them (a smoking area-perhaps it could be a money-making area/particular really neat restaurant) that would be appropriate.
I am not a smoker and do not appreciate having to walk through smoke to enter a building, which regularly occurs regardless of policy. Can a more rigorous compliance campaign be run first? I am a passive contributor to these smoking violations - I have never asked a person to move away from a building. If creating a more physically defined smoking area is needed to help the enforcement, it seems unfortunate that it comes with such a cost.
I am not a smoker and do not want smoking inside facilities, however smoking outside (away from building entrances)or in personal vehicles goes beyond what I believe is reasonable for 1st time implementation. We do a lot of education on hazards of smoking, but it is legal for those who choose to do so and my goal is to eliminate contact in enclosed spaces for others. Sometimes there are already too many laws and rules where individuals are impacted...seems state, counties, and cities are already legislating everything we can do. Common sense and respect for others is sometimes a good thing to learn how to interact with others in a variety of situations. Legislating everything we do in our actions is not the answer to living together respectfully.
I am not a smoker, and never have been. Cannot believe why on earth anyone wants to smoke--it's a character weakness as far as I am concerned and a sign that peer pressure can easily get to these people. Most, but not all, smokers are inconsiderate litterbugs who carelessly toss their butts around. The ashtray areas on campus are smelly places strewn with butts. I have no sympathy for smokers at all. I support locking them in their cars with the windows rolled up.
I am not a smoker. But let us not continue to scapegoat the smokers on this campus. Let's instead keep a clear focus on academics. Let's really try to accomplish something there, continuing on the margins we've already begun to develop, rather than taking on this crusade. As administrators enter the job market beyond this institution, let's not have their previous accomplishments amount to "I spearheaded and instituted a completely smoke-free campus plan."
I am not convinced that the smoking shelters are a good idea. There is no guarantee that smokers will actually use them; the smoke-free radius around building entrances we have now is rarely enforced or followed. Even if the shelters were used they would quickly become filthy, dirty, smelly eyesores. That much smoke will make anything nasty, and who will clean them? Although I realize that non-smokers stand to benefit from the construction of these shelters, I don't think it’s fair to pay for them with tuition fees from non-smokers. Smokers are entirely responsible for creating this issue. Perhaps if they had not made the conscious effort to start smoking in the first place, or had been more careful to observe the smoke-free radius around building entrances, this survey would be unnecessary. Smokers are to blame for creating this issue, and the smokers are ultimately the ones who should have to pay for it. I've never smoked a day in my life, and I have no use for a smoking shelter, so is it fair to use my tuition fees to pay for one? More and more places are going smoke free, and college campuses should be no exception. I’m sorry for the lengthy response. I feel strongly about this issue and I’m glad that NMU is doing something about it. Thank you!
I am not supportive of a graduated implementation of the campus going smoke-free because it seems silly and wasteful of time and energy to delay the inevitable. Also, I'm not in support of structures being built for people to smoke in!!! I do not want to see our campus, in a time of money-crunch, spend money on people who are killing themselves! Also, if they chose to live and be smokers in a climate that is cold 6 months out of the year, that's their problem! To give a different suggestion, I would also say that instead of spending money to build structures, spend money on people that would actually enforce the smoking in designated zones, however many feet from the building they are ACTUALLY suppose to be. If they actually stayed where they are suppose to now, none of this would be such an issue. This way we're not being too controlling. The fine for breaking this rule should be very large too! Like $100! It's crazy that parking is patrolled so well, and yet something like smoking, that has a direct affect on a persons well fare is no big deal...
I am supportive of this action however, I do feel that smoking in private vehicles may be a bit too far. I agree with the outdoor areas being off limits simply for that fact that smokers seem to leave their used butts wheever they finish smoking.
I am very supportive of a smoke free environment on NMU's campus. I've often seen smokers who smoke very close to buildings on campus and smelt the smoke as it drifted into the vents of the buildings. This smell has long since bothered me since it gives me headaches and it is very hazardous to one's health. I strongly encourage a smoke free environment on campus, and I appreciate your efforts in getting feedback and addressing this issue. Thank you!
I am very supportive of a smoke-free campus, but I do not feel that we can "legislate" what people do in their own private cars. I do strongly support smoke-free buildings and other NMU property that is uniformly used by the public.
I answered not supportive to #s 3,4&5 but they are better options than what we have now.
I appreciate a smoke-free environment and would like to have smokers stay away from the building entrances and air intakes. But, I'm not sure a total ban on smoking is appropriate given its legality and addictiveness. I'm not convinced we need to be so intolerant.
I believe a smoke free campus would be too difficult to enforce, and if its not going to be enforced, then it becomes a useless policy. If public safety is prepared to write and uphold violations for each instance, then perhaps in time it could be made to work, but that seems to require more man power than they have.
I believe a smoke free campus would help to attract the type of student who is into health and environment, and possibly a bit more intellectual.
I believe NMU sholuld ban smoking in the vicinity of all buildings, not jsut the entrances, because of the air intake issue and windows that can be opened in some buildings. While I support the elimination of smoking and do not smoke personally, I would not like to see us lose faculty, staff, and students over a total ban of smoking. I believe we can afford and figure out how to set up enforceable smoking areas away from the main traffic routes. Smoking in cars should be the car owner's issue not the university.
I believe that all of the interiors of buildings should be smoke free. I don't think we project a good image having smokers by entrances to buildings. I don't mind if people are smoking away from buildings. Smoking is not illegal so as long as they can do it in areas that do not impact others then it should not be completely banned.
I believe that banning all smoking even outdoors away from people is a violation of personal liberty. Having said that, I have no tolerance for littering with cigarette butts and I believe that banning smoking in front of entry ways is reasonable. Though these activities are already banned, I have never heard of anyone getting ticketed for either of them. Before we make more restrictive rules lets try enforcing the existing ones.
I believe that this policy would be difficult to enforce. What would the penalty be for smoking on campus? Would it be any different for a student, a staff member, or a visitor? What would happen if someone came in contact with someone who smelled of smoke (from home or from their car) and found it offensive? Would this be a violation of the non-smoking policy? If it would be I would also think you could find offensive some colognes or body sprays that people wear too. In for a penny in for a pound... Honestly, I think that it is a good idea to limit the exposure to the smokers for people who do not like smoke. Designated smoking entrances in buildings and smoking shelters ("butt huts") are all better and more feasible options than taking the campus completely smoke free. Better yet the campus should take on a "healthy lifestyle" campaign instead. You could focus on non-smoking programs, but also on over eating and unhealthy lifestyles. There are a lot of people out there senselessly eating their way higher cholesterol, blood pressure and diabetes that group insurance has to pay to treat.
I believe the campus should be smoke-free. The smoking occurring just outside doorways, not to mention the accumulation of "butts", affects us all, as we have to walk through it to get to our classrooms. I realize it would be difficult to enforce the "no smoking inside your car" thing, but it's worth a try. There's no good reason to permit this "killer" habit to occur at Northern any longer. Thanks for your efforts!
I believe we have far more serious problems at NMU than smoking.
I can't stand smelling smoke - but I don't want to become a "nanny" university either. My philosphy is "educate - don't mandate".
I checked "not supportive" to question #4 as I don't like the idea of doing it in a graduated fashion. Just implement the program (if it's going to be implemented)so people can get used to the rules all at once. As a non-smoker, I am all for having a smoke-free campus. The one question that I have is how this will be enforced but I'm sure that will be thought of. Thanks for bringing this issue to the forefront. Let NMU set the example of a smoke-free environment when business in downtown Marquette are afraid to!
I dislike being around smokers. I have few friends who are smokers, and I don't allow the ones who do to smoke in my house or car. I refuse to ride in a vehicle with someone who is smoking. However, all that said, I don't think that banning smoking on campus is a realistic solution. How would it be enforced? It is hard enough getting smokers to respect the mandated distance from buildings. Would public safety be deployed on foot to make sure that students weren't sneaking smokes as they walked between buildings? What will the unions have to say about prohibiting a legal (though disgusting) activity still practiced by some of their members? I had never heard of smoking shelters before, but they seem like a workable solution. Most smokers aren't deliberately trying to assault or offend non-smokers, so providing a place for them to gather to inhale each other's second hand smoke seems like it would meet less resistance than attempting to extinguish smoking altoether.
I do believe that smokers have rights,too, although it should not be at the expense of my own health. I am not a smoker and am totally against it, but I do think that there should be certain places designated for smokers on campus.
I do not believe we should begin policing smoking in private vehicles. I support smoke-free in campus buildings and within a short distance of doorways. However, smokers should not be made to leave campus to smoke (e.g., not being allowed to smoke in their own cars) as they do have this physical addiction and cannot go off campus to smoke between classes. We want to protect others from second-hand smoke while not infringing on the rights and needs of those who continue to smoke in private spaces.
I do not understand why this is an issue - NO ONE SHOULD SMOKE. We have known this for over 40 years. Moreover, no one should be subject to second hand smoke. If I contract lung cancer, I will sue Northern Michigan University for not enforcing no smoking withing 30 feet of doorways.
I do not want to breathe smoke. I want to breathe fresh, clean air, which is a lot more likely if we ban all smoking on this campus. I believe it would also decrease our health-care costs and improve our general image.
I don't feel that Northern's current smoking policy is dangerous or detrimental to the student body at large. Smoking is legal and as long as it's done in open areas it does not significantly affect others. If health is the issue, address many of the choice of fried food in the Den, ubiquitous soft-drink machines, etc.
I don't find the smoking in front of buildings to be a distraction or health hazard. I think that the 30 foot perimeter is adequate but should be enforced better. We also should fine people who throw cigarette butts on the ground as litter. Beyond that, it is a matter of personal choice and responsibility.
I don't have a problem with smokers as long as they smoke in designated areas and not leave a mess.
I don't know the legal issues of smoking in a car with windows up or down while driving or parked on NMU property. Enforcement of the ruling would be part of the situation for both faculty and students.
I don't like the smokers crowded around doorways, but I also think that a total ban is draconian. You will not be able to "ban" smoking effectively...people will still do it...and who will be the smoking police?
I don't see how NMU could become completely smoke free. We have students that live here 24/7 and they should be able to smoke outside (on campus) if they choose.
I don't smoke and don't think anyone should but those who do smoke should be allowed to do so outside. I think smokers do hurt everyone in general by increasing health care costs and they should pay more of their own Health Insurance. What you might do is have them "taxed." Let them pay for smoking by paying a portion of their "Health Insurance" and make them purchase a pass that allows them to smoke outside on campus, otherwise they must go off campus to smoke. I think going completely to a smokeless campus with no options will hurt enrollment at a time when we do not want to have enrollment problems.
I don't support spending money (i.e. shelters) to support smokers' habits. But I think they should be allowed to smoke in private vehicles with their windows closed (but not in parking lots generally, or elsewhere on campus).
I don't think it's appropriate or very profesional to have people smoking outside near the entrances of buildings. From what I have seen, people are not moving far enough from the buildings when they smoke like they have been told to do.
I don't think it's right to impose complete smoke-free outside. Inside yes and it is already so. Smokers have some rights too! Even though I am not a smoker I don't think we should dictate what others should do with their bodies. Pro-choice, anyone? Make some accomodations - shelters might be interesting, given the weather up here. Let's try to focus on something serious, like the amount of waste generated on campus by not recyling or reusing office paper, and NMU's contribution to glabal warming, or the sulfide mine that will affect people for generations. Second-hand smoke in open air is not a big problem when you are inhaling other kinds of exhaust sputed on a daily basis, including from your smoke-free car.
I don't think smoking shelters will work simply because people won't use them; as it is, smokers are supposed to stay away from building entrances, yet every day I walk through at least one disgusting cloud of smoke at a building doorway. Hopefully a completely smoke-free campus will be better enforced.
I don't think this is a good idea. Even though I am a non-smoker, I believe smokers have rights, too. And people should be allowed to smoke while at work (outside or in designated areas). Some smokers will not quit. People will take longer breaks, because they will have to leave NMU property to smoke. And, people should be allowed to smoke in their own vehicles. That is their property, not NMU property. Please, seriously reconsider this idea.
I favor a smoke-free campus, but I do not favor of legislating what one does in one's car, even while parked on campus. Legislate litter and smoking near buildings. Smokers have civil rights, too.
I fully support a totally smole free campus
I generally agree with the health aspects of this proposal. I agree that restaurants should be smoke free. However, anyone has the right to make the decision to smoke...and yes, there are awful consequences for people who smoke if that's their lot...but I do wonder if totally banning smoking anywhere on campus including outside when not immediately by a bldg. door is going too far in terms of individual rights.
I had a hard time with this survey because I have compassion for those truly addicted. Smoking is still legal and I sympathize those who struggle with this. However, it is a true health issue and second hand smoke kills people so for that reason I support NMU going totally smoke free by 2010. Enforcement would have to be implemented, though, or those addicted would still smoke on campus. Hopefully higher numbers of those in future generations, understanding the limitations and stigma not imposed before, will choose not to smoke because of NMU and other entitites taking a stand against this health hazard.
I hate to see those who smoke not able to do so on campus, but at the same time we do need to keep the smokers away from entry ways.
I hate tobacco. Smokers are hazardous to my health, and cigarette butts litter the landscape everywhere.
I hate walking into entrances when there are people standing out smoking. I think it looks tacky and smells. I hate that the hospital employees are now coming onto NMU property to smoke. It reminds me of kids in high school going across the street to smoke on lunch break.
I have a real concern with putting out a message that places moral ratings on a personal habit, albeit a harmful habit. Can we really afford a message that excludes certain people from being acceptable candidates for admission to NMU?
I have a right to breathe clean, fresh air free from carcinogens which supersedes any smoker's "rights" to pollute our air. They can do it in a shelter or in their car and do the damage to themselves, not the general public. Cancer runs in my genes and I don't need anymore risks especially having to walk through clouds of carcinogenic smoke lingering outside doorways.
I have seen the use of smoking shelters used on other campuses and they, in general, do not seem to work.
I honestly hate walking up campus behind someone who is smoking and trying to get in the door and holding my breath. No one pays attention to the 30 feet rule. Building smoking "shelters" is NOT a good idea, it would become and eye soar and probably get vandalized. Plus it isn't keeping with the natural look northern is trying to portray. I also don't know of a smoker who likes to smoke with their windows closed, plus it is going to be pretty hard to inforce that. A gradual fashion might work to see if Northern is not getting as many applications, because I know they are more worried about the money these smokers bring in. My last comments is to just to be smart, don't through away money, make sure it is inforceable, and plant more trees!
I hope the survey will give you the needed backbone to move toward a smoke free campus, but in reality this is really a health issue and not simply "What do you think" issue. Thanks
I like the concept of a smoke-free campus. I think that the support necessary to move forward with this initiative is present. However, I wonder how enforcement of such a policy would be/could be managed... Also, what is the impetus for such an initiative? Thank you.
I like the idea of a smoke-free campus in theory, but wonder how realistic and practical it is. Who will enforce it and how? Will there be smoking police? At what cost?
I often find myself having to hold my breath when I enter or leave a classroom building, because there are so many people standing by the doors smoking, and I have asthma.
I respect my co workers choice to smoke, but when she comes back to the office after a smoking break, the smoke lingers to my desk area, and gives me an instant headache and affects my sinuses. She takes 2 breaks a day.
I strongly disagree with making NMU smoke free. I see it as violating the rights of the smoking students and faculty. I have nothing but contempt for those nonsmokers who whine about their rights being violated, and who hypocritically subvert the rights of others.
I strongly support a smoke free campus as soon as possible.
I strongly support a smoke-free NMU but draw the line at prohibiting smoking to the extent that people cannot smoke in their own cars. I also believe smoking shelters should be set up for those who do choose to smoke. I don't smoke at all, never have, and actually find it a disgusting habit, but, as long as public spaces are not being invaded by smoke, I feel anyone of the legal age has the right to choose to smoke if they wish.
I support a smoke-free campus as soon as possible.
I support an environment where a non-smoker can be present without being able to breath the smoke.
I support anything we everthing we can to to discourage smoking now!
I support making NMU a smoke-free campus. I think going about it in a graduated fashion is the only way to do it. This will give students who came to NMu as smokers the opportunity to graduate before the no smoking policy goes into effect and it will give employees the chaance to quit.
I support smoke free, but not to impose on private vehicles, whether their windows are open or closed. I don't see smoking shelters as a viable alternative as many smokers do not abide by the 30 ft policy. I think location, expense and potential little use should be considered regarding shelters. I would support smoke free 100% for: interior and exterior of all buildings, and parking lots, but not in private vehicles, whether windows are open or closed at this time.
I support smoke-free all interior and exterior, but NOT include private vehicles in parking lots.
I support smoke-free areas where the smoke would impact or potentially harm others. I don't see where smoking in one's own vehicle, without nonsmokers present, fits this criterion. In fact it seems kind of big brotherish. I also wonder about enforcement. I think current policy requires smokers to be 30 feet from buildings, yet many people smoke just beyond building entrances. If a thirty foot rule were strictly enforced, perhaps a campus wide policy wouldn't be necessary. And if a campus wide policy is enacted but not enforced, what's the point?
I support smoke-free in all buildings, including residences. But away from buildings outside? Wow! Too harsh!
I support this effort 100%. In my travels about campus I see very few smoker adhering to the current policy of staying at least 15-20 ft.(or whatever the exact distance is)away from the buildings. I can imagine that it is impossible for campus police to enforce the current policy. Not to dismiss the importance of this issue but there have to be are so many other responsiblities and safety issues to attend to that are critical to keep our campus safe. Becoming a non-smoking campus makes sense for NMU in so many ways. Kudos to all of you for pursuing this initiative!...
I think a graduated process would make monitoring and follow up with violations of the policy very difficult. People smoking in closed vehicles would come back to their residence hall rooms and classrooms with an overpowering smell of smoke on their clothing and hair. This smell can be as disruptive as second hand smoke. Due to extreme UP weather conditions, I think it would show that NMU was making a reasonable effort to respect the rights of everyone in our community by providing accessible smoking shelters for people who choose to smoke.
I think a two-year time frame is too long. I've been at other institutions that have managed to go smoke-free in less than a year. Considering that we, as faculty, are often given very short timelines for doing very important committee work, I think this is something that could be accomplished in a much shorter time frame.
I think going smoke free is a wonderful idea from a health standpoint, and as a non-smoker, I can see many positive benefits. However, as a faculty member in a department already struggling for enrollment, I worry that we may lose precious students as a result. The idea of smoking shelters probably has good intent, but I doubt the shelters would be used given that we currently cannot control students smoking right in front of buildings when signs prohibit it.
I think it is a great plan and fits nicely with the Northern naturally and sustainability initiatives. I think the world is moving in this direction and being on the cutting edge with this, laptops, and green living practices will be a good thing when people look back at NMU historically.
I think it is fine for people to smoke as long as it is away from the building (doors, windows, etc.) I feel it would be a violation to do otherwise. Also asking people to not smoke in their car--I feel would definately be a violation to personal privacy, especially when the car is theirs--not the university's.
I think it is important that smokers not be allowed to smoke outside entrances to University buildings. People with lung problems and asthma are trying to enter the buildings and have problems because of smoke. If there are enclosed spaces on campus that are for smoking then we can choose not to enter these spaces.
I think it would be a positive aspect of NMU to be smoke-free. It would cut down on pollution, air, and earth. Not to mention second hand smoke annoyance or health hazards. I can not tell you how many times I have walked into a building by holding my breath to pass by a smoker. I also do not care to see butts littered anywhere. I do feel that smokers would be put to a disadvantage, I know many students who smoke.
I think smoking should be banned wherever someone does not have a choice to be around someone that smokes (all buildings should be smoke-free). Otherwise I think people should be allowed to smoke outdoors as long as others aren't forced to be around them (no smoking at bus stops, campus/sporting events, etc.).
I think that it is a great idea
I think that NMU should go smoke free as soon as possible. With all that we know about the harmful effects of cigarettes, an educational institution should not only promote healthy practices for students, faculty, and staff, but also for the environment.
I think that questions 6 and 7 should be asked of employees as well.
I think the current policy is fine, people should be encouraged to smoke about 20-25 feet away from buildings. Let's not demonize smokers. Give them a fair chance to enjoy their sins.
I think the entire campus should be non smoking including all university owned or operated cars and trucks.
I think this is a selfish endeavor and an example of nontolerance of a choice of others. Other than making buildings smoke free and asking someone not to blow smoke in your face, we can't ban the individuals or treat them so discriminately. We have to tolerate their right chose to smoke. Isn't that what democracy is all about? Are we not a democratic campus? Why do we have to treat a group so hatefully because they have made the choice to smoke, something we don't like. For what other habit or lifestyle are we going to become intolerant and ban?
I think we are okay with the level of smoking prohibition we have. AFter all, the smokers are outside the buildings. So we don't have to breathe in the smoke! Is the concern over the dorms where some students can smoke in their rooms?
I totally agree to a smoke free campus, however I could live with them smoking in their cars or in shelters only.
I totally support a completely smoke-free campus.
I would like to hear the committee or the president articulate why this is important to NMU and its future. I agree with the concept, however it should fall within a strategic overall plan, not merely something that a few people just want to see happen.
I would like to see us go smokefree by 2009, not 2010.
I would love to see NMU go smoke-free as my tax dollars will be supporting those who smoke now as they get sick and develop illnesses and diseases associated with smoking. And I hate the smell of cigarette smoke, and so does my asthma.
I would need addt'l information as to what effects this handful of smokers has on the "air" on NMU's campus. I am not in agreement if NMU says "a person can no longer smoke anywhere on campus" & then a non-smoker gets into their gas-guzzling SUV and drives away. To me, that just isn't right.
I would prefer to enforce current smoking regulations (such as distance from doors) prior to spending any funds on "smoking" shelters. Designated smoking "rooms" in specific buildings (which already exist) would seem a more practical way to appease both smokers and non-smokers. I'm not certain that smoking bans discourage students from smoking. Smokers are also people, and they have a legal right to smoke, provided they are of age, and as this is a "living" community, not just a "visiting" or commuter campus, there should be adequate facilities available to make students who either choose or are required to live on campus to be made to feel welcome.
I would support going smoke free if there were designated areas where people could smoke. We have people living on campus who are smokers. To expect that they won't smoke anywhere on campus property is not reasonable.
I would support smoke free but I feel an individual should be able to smoke in their own vehicle. (I am not a smoker.) Shelters are a good idea but I am skeptical if smokers would use them. Maybe try one and see if it gets the usage to support additional.
I would think we would want to do all or nothing. In reference to the shelters, once we start making exceptions it will become difficult to enforce the policy.
I wrote these comments before but when I tried to submit them the session said it "timed out." I guess you weren't expecting much time in thought on the comments. But, luckily, I saved them from the previous time. Here they are again. If you get a double, you will know what went wrong... Hi. Thank you for thinking of this health promoting endeavor. It can work. Don't be too worried about losing students to other universities if they can't smoke here. Our university needs to take a stand and distinguish itself based upon important principles. Then, let the chips fall after that. Perhaps this ban could actually help business in the region as students would go off campus somewhere to smoke. Well, I think second hand smoke is a giant health problem and perhaps the university could get lawsuits from second hand smoke injured people if there is smoking and others are exposed to it by virtue of their need to be in a workspace, etc. For every negative there is a positive side. So - Ban smokers and decrease work needed to clean, decrease disgust of non-smokers who have to walk through the smoke haze and decrease your lawsuit potential. I am supportive of this move, however with one super giant- sized caveat. That has to do with Native Americans. Tobacco is a part of the local Native American religion. While I do not believe that Ojibwe people should be allowed to smoke on campus in a non-sacred way anywhere they would like at any time, I do believe that whenever native people engage in a ceremony of any sort on campus that they should have implied permission to smoke a pipe, tobacco or whatever herbs are needed (they won't be smoking marijuana) at that time in our buildings. This allowance must be made clear. It would be the job of the university to work with Native Studies office to work out the details of how this allowance could be made clear and if there were limits to how it would work, that these rules are acceptable for all parties involved. We went through this a number of years ago (80's? Not sure.) when we stopped faculty smoking in their offices and all smoking within buildings. I made the same comments then. People cannot, for smoking purposes, adopt the "smoking religion" and then believe that they can smoke on campus any time they would desire, but I do hope that we would want to encourage or at least create a space for people to carry their prayers to the creator at any time they feet the need to do so. Whenever there is a ceremony of any type on campus (pow-wow, feast meal, etc.) this is an immediate sacred space and the invocation of the great spirit or any other spirit may be called upon. Tobacco, Cedar, Sage and Sweetgrass are burned for our local native people. Other native people probably have other things they do. This is in addition to the many times a person or class in a native studies course may feel the need to call upon the spirits for assistance. How shall this be handled appropriately so that there is not controversy and bitterness regarding this on campus? As I am writing this, I am wondering about other religions that may feel a desire to burn incense to the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha for example. I would hate for people to not be allowed to express themselves in a way appropriate to their religion in times of need or appropriateness because of a ban on "smoking." Shall we create quiet rooms or areas where offerings are allowed? OR shall this be allowed outside? I personally would enjoy a little sacred space identified where I could conveniently go to make offerings. I am not sure how to approach this concern. We are a state university but as members of the state we realize that religious expressions are diverse. Also knowing people in the U.S., we know that someone will take this happy idea and push it to the farthest extent of the envelope possible under the guise of religious expression also. Therefore, I offer my concerns about banning smoking because of the negative religious effects on some. I would rather walk through the cloud of cigarette smoke haze at doors if native people could not smoke during ceremonies in gyms, etc. or anywhere on campus because of a total ban. Last time we had this discussion around campus I was impressed at how the university lawyer recognized the need for native people to smoke inside during ceremonies, etc. I hope we continue this fine tradition of understanding at NMU while we work out thorny details. What better way to deal with this issue than to model our respect for such religious considerations to our students? Sincerely, cturton@nmu.edu I am sending a copy of these comments to Ms. April Lindala too. Thanks for this opportunity to comment.
I'd prefer for NMU to go smoke free sooner than 2010. Even though I support a totally smoke free campus, we do have to consider the rights of smokers to have some place to smoke such as their cars,parking lots, and shelters as suggested above. I encourage you to continue moving toward a healthy campus and that includes window offices for all office based employees and windows that open!
I'm a non-smoker, but I can't see this as being very practical. I agree that smoking doesn't belong indoors, but how will NMU enforce such a policy? If someone (a guest even) happens to "light up" on campus, is someone going to write them a ticket? Are we going to actually want to pay someone to write tickets and expend University dollars on something that is clearly a person's own choice (to smoke and possibly harm themself)? Although I'm not a fan of the "smoking islands" alreday on campus, it's a lot better than legislating people's behaviors that may not be harming others - let 'em smoke outside.
I'm ALL FOR NMU being smoke-free; it's definitely a step in the right direction. I'm against smoking shelters -- they're expensive, and you know people won't stay in the shelters while smoking -- they'll take their last couple of puffs to their destination, and I CAN'T STAND walking behind someone who is smoking. I would prefer NMU to be completely smoke-free, but I don't know how you'll be able to enforce it in private vehicles (windows open or not). Public Safety is rarely visible (do they ever leave the service building?), so who would be the enforcer, and how would they "chase" down offenders? It really upsets me that MGH went smoke free and now all of their employees/visitors come to the UC parking lot to smoke (and leave all of their cigarette butts). By the middle of summer the grass had all been killed off and it was just patches of brown dirt where all of the smokers stood. Breathing is difficult for me when I'm near smokers and I'm susceptible to headaches (migraines as well) when around smoke, so anything you can do to remove the problem would be fantastic. THANK YOU for looking into the problem; I hope NMU can be smoke-free!
I'm in total agreement with the campus going smoke-free. It makes for a healthy environment - FOR ALL!!!
I'm not a smoker and never have been. I'm a faculty member of many years experience at Northern. Over the years NMU has become "more smoke free" and I support that. Right now the only problem from my point of view is walking through a smoke cloud outside a buidling I'm entering or leaving. I am opposed to building outside shelters for smokers to use, because of the cost of doing that. I think it's important that anyone employed by the university with health benefits that those include payment of expenses incurred in participating in some reputable non-smoking program. Maybe that's already the case. If it isn't I support that. I do wonder whether a policy prohibitting smoking in individual dorm rooms and in univesity apartments would really help smokers to quit and non-smokers to avoid second hand smoke. I'm glad President Wong is looking into this and I'm glad this survey is part of the process.
I'm not a smoker, but many of my friends and family are, it's really awkward to tell your father that he can't smoke after he's driven 9 1/2 hours to see you! :)
I'm not a smoker, but realize that my co-workers who do smoke, take breaks throughout the day to smoke. If they have to go off-campus to smoke they will be gone for longer periods in the day...affecting the productivity of the office. I don't like walking through smoke as I go inside buildings, but I also don't feel comfortable approaching strangers and my co-workers regarding university policy. So, I just hold my breath and walk a little faster.
I'm sure this has been addressed or talked about already, but is the University ready to enforce the non-smoking campus if that's the way we choose to go. Are Public Safety officers, or others, prepared to issue citations to faculty who might be smoking on campus? Visitors? Administrators? That, I think, is a key question. I whole-heartedly support a smoke free campus.
I'm very happy to see that NMU is considering a smoke-free campus. Being an asthmatic, this is very deaqr to my heart. Thanks!!!
I'm very supportive of NMU making this move. I'm always very disgusted to get in an elevator with a smoker or just after a smoker has gotten off one on campus. The lingering smell is enough to get me going into an asthma attack. This feeling runs the same when on the exterior campus, and you come across a group of people smoking right in front of the entrance you need to go through. I do not see very many people abiding by the 30 feet from a building rule currently on campus. One final thought on this is has any thought gone into how this will be enforced? Will there be more paroles? Will additional public safety staff be hired to make this their sole job? What will be the consequences if you are caught violating the policy? These are important things that will need to be addressed and thought out to make this truly work. Since I see so many violations to the current 30 feet from a building rule, I want to make sure this is carried 100% through.
If a No Smoking Policy is put in place, people are still going to smoke. Currently MGH has a no smoking policy and people are smoking every where. I think it would be impossible to regulate a no smoking ban. I am all for speaclized places for people to smoke. Just as long they aren't in buldings, by entryways, and air vents.
If a policy is created it must be _enforced_. Even now the requirement that smokers stay outside a certain distance from building entries is ignored; complete prohibition would certainly be ignored if not enforced.
If NMU is genuine in its support to promote healthy lifesyles, I firmly believe a smoke free campus policy should be pursued.
If nothing else, NMU really needs to enforce the "No Smoking within 30 Feet" rule that is place by entrance doors. I work in the LRC and every day I have to pass by smokers right outside the door rather than where they're suppose to be, and I hate it. I don't care if it's winter or not. I've also seen people smoking on the loading dock (again, not where they're suppose to be) and doing it while leaving the back door open and all that smoke-filled air blows down the hallway out into the commons area inside the LRC. It's ridiculous to have this rule blatantly violated, yet NEVER enforced. Please, if nothing else, start enforcing this!
If one chooses to smoke, they should be able to outside, away from building entrances
If people want to smoke, they can do it somewhere else. I agree they have the right to smoke, but it always infringes on the rights of non-smokers.
If we allow smoking in personal vehicles and also permit smoking in a "shelter," the health ramifications of smoking are not truly being addressed. Smokers have more illnesses thus adding to the cost of NMU's health care more frequently and with more severity. This adds to the total cost of the University's health care annually. Perhaps making it more difficult for smokers to light up at work will actually be a good incentive for some to consider quitting smoking completely.
If we are going to moralize smoking on the grounds that it is bad for people's health, then get rid of cars too. Otherwise it is a ludicrous proposition that fails to grasp underlying issues. Intolerance is ugly regardless of how you dress it up.
If we do not go smoke-free, then the current policy of 30-feet from doorways needs to be strongly enforced. Also tickets need to be handed out for littering. I'm sure enforcing both laws/policies would be very costly. It would be much more efficient and healthy to be smoke-free!
If you are going to make the campus smoke free do it in one step on a date certain. Gradual introduction will only create problems and misunderstandings. There is always an outcry when you declare anyplace smoke free, but it usually is short lived. I do beleive you will lose some students because of this policy.
In a general outdoor environment why not let those who smoke, smoke. To outlaw smoking in ones own car is an intrusion into ones privacy and restrictive to insane degree. Smoking shelters would seem a good idea.
In an era when human rights and freedoms have been under serious assault I do not support any measures that reduce free choice. I also do not support treating an entire community as if they are idiotic children who should be saved from themselves. Before this campus starts limiting even more areas of individual freedoms by jumping on the self-righteous bandwagon of "no smoking allowed," I suggest NMU attempt to eliminate all the ways in which it contributes negatively to the environment first.
Inhaling second hand smoke causes a breathing problem for me as I have asthma. Also, sitting next to someone who is a smoker and has just come in from smoking in a car with their windows closed can be just as annoying.
It is disgusting to see Marquette General smoking on our campus. I hold my breath "outside" when I walk by the University Center, were they are smoking. Not to mentions what they are doing to the grass.
It really is a policy that is very "big brother" in it's scope. Smokers, students and faculty, have the right to make their personal choices and NMU should not be their guardian. Certainly, second-hand smoke is not an issue outside or in their cars. In fact, if health is a factor, then maybe NMU should ban cars instead since they create environmental concerns that affect our health more drastically than a few smokers. Also, maybe NMU should then get rid of soft drink machines and cease to sell junk food at it's dining areas. Sounds silly, but that is what happens when you start enforcing such rules. Speaking of enforcement, what will be the costs of hiring more campus police to catch these "terrible criminals". There are plenty of spots to sneak a smoke and there is no sense in making a rule that won't be enforced. Please give up this idea and show respect for all members of the NMU community.
It would be nice if NMU could be a smokefree campus !! It would hopefully take care of the cigarette butt litter around campus, right now it an eyesore & quite a mess !!!
It's a health hazard. I do not want to breath other people's smoke. Stop smoking on campus immediately!! Who designed these questions? They are totally stupid. If I'm not supportive of a graduated non smoking campus and I check non supportive, does that mean I'm not in favor of a smoking ban. Typical NMU...can't do anything right...It's so sad
It's about time we quit trying to be everything to everybody. Smoking is hazardous to the whole! We should not be supporting smoking in any shape or form.
It's time NMU goes smoke-free. Tobacco smoke harms everyone.
Large venues would need an outdoor smoking area near the building.
Lately I have seen many cigarrette butts on top of external garbage cans placed in the snow on top of the can. I think that looks terrible and it is disrespectful of the persons who are doing that. Especially since there are cigarrette disposal cans very close to the garbage cans. Also, it does seem like smokers hang out at building doors to smoke. For non-smokers, it is not nice to have to walk through the smoke just to enter or leave a building.
Let's become COMPLETELY smoke free!
Let's go smoke free, please. I want to live longer. Not fair that I have to walk through a cloud of smoke every morning before entering my building to work. Then, when the wind blows all of that smoke blows into my work area.
Making buildings smoke free is sufficient. More rules mean more enforcement. ugh. I wonder if the complainers aren't a small group?
MAKING THE CAMPUS SMOKE FREE WILL HOPEFULLY ENCOURAGE SOME TO QUIT. I AM FOR THIS CHANGE.
Many of our armed troops have died fighting for freedom. Therefore, it is too precious to give away in such a frivolous fashion.
MGH is a smoke free campus,they are next door! This will make a great big hole in Marquette for non smokers to enjoy.
My complaint about smokers is they do not understand what 30 feet is. They still stand right in front of entrances.
My concern is a completely smoke free campus would be impossible to enforce. I think making all interior areas and within 50 feet of buildings smoke free and enforcing these rules would be sufficient. Having 'bus' shelters would help encourage people to smoke outside the 50 foot limit.
My mother and father both died at an early age due to the combined effects of their smoking habit. Anything that can be done to curb or eliminate smoking should be a priority.
My only worry is our goal of enrollment vs the negative effect of smokers not choosing northern. That would be a reason to support these smoking shelters. Also I am afraid this would become a policy that is not enforced. Just on the books. What would be the penalties? How would you keep visitors to campus informed?
My preference would be to go smoke-free entirely and soon as possible. But any move towards this would be appreciated.
NMU going completely smoke free would not only improve our environment but it would improve our image as a quality institution.
NMU should make some reasonable accommodations for smokers.
No one adhears to the current policy.. smoke free is the only way to go.
No one--I repeat no one follows the rules to smoke the required distance from the building and I am constantly forced to walk through smoker's smoke to enter a building. If you build shelters it will be the same-no one will use them!
No Smoking would be great!
none
Not sure what you mean by "completely smoke free." What people do in their own cars is their own business so long as it's legal. I will not support banning that. First bann talking on cell phones and eating fast foods.
Now, don't wait til 2010... establish regulations with MGH so patients and employees do not come on NMU property to smoke and discard butts.
Often times smoke is not a huge issue, unless if in an enclosed space. It is the litter that is omnipresent that reflects poorly on the smokers and their general disregard for others.
One cannot acquire cancer in a graduated fashion. Many facilities are making smoke-free a standard. The effects of second-hand smoke from tobacco products is well researched, documented, and proven to be equally or more harmful than first-hand. Please take as immediate action as is prudent. Thank you for being so proactive in your genuine concern for our collective health and well-being.
People have a right to smoke but not in my airspace. I think they can smoke in their own vehicles with the windows up and no one should be able to stop them from doing that. I do not agree with spending money to put up special shelters for smokers on campus. It is almost like promoting it as they are given a space and it is seen by the public so it seems like we promote it. Rather than spend money on smoking shelters spend the money to offer smokers on campus counseling and aids to stop as that benefits us all health wise and economically. Thank you for the opportunity to express my opinion.
Perhaps smokers should pay more of the co pay for health insurance since smoking is such a health concern. Healthy non-smokers could pay less of a co pay for insurance. Not likely to happen, but it is an incentive to stop an unhealthy habit/addiction.
Please go smoke free :)
Please keep all interior parts of campus smoke-free. As far as exterior parts of campus, I can go either way. I would like to see a reduction in the number of cigarette butts that litter campus.
Prior to my NMU graduation I lived in the on campus apartment for four years and each semster I would be bothered by second hand smoke. I have a son with asthma and I hated the fact people were allowed to smoke in their appartments. Many times my son would come home from school and hold his breath as he passed through the common area of the Norwood apartments until he reached the inside of our apartment. When ever second hand smoke was a problem I would always address it with the person smoking but the situation never got better. I called housing and they supplied me with an air purifier and I know that other tenants put in the same request to have an air purifier delivered to their apartment. Even with the purifires the smell of smoke would still find it's way into our apartment. MAny times tenants would smoke outside but on a nice day the smoke would drift right into the open windows. No one ever abides by the 30 feet away rule. Perfect example is all of the filthy cigarette butts by many of the door entrnces going into Jamerich hall. Which brings up anohter factor. Sometimes I would be in class in JX and I could smell smoke from the smokers outside. I hope that NMU moves forward in becoming smoke free!
Providing smoking shelters is nothing more than enabling smoking.
Regarding #4, I'd be happy if we shut down smoking everywhere tomorrow!! However, i'd also support a graduated program.
Regarding question #4 - I believe it's best to just go smoke-free all at once (but not include private vehicles) to avoid the confusion of "here, not there, there, not here". If we're doing it for health reasons then why graduate it into place?
Right now, I am pregnant and have to walk through a cloud of smoke to enter the buildings even though no one is supposed to be smoking there. The classrooms still smell like smoke, but it has gotten better over the years. I just don't think it is fair that I have to be exposed to smoke when I don't smoke, and no one is enforcing students and faculty not smoking near the doors to enter the buildings.
should be done as soon as possible
Should be smoke free right away
Situation as it is now is the same in the country - both on college campuses and at workplaces. At the worst, we can increase the smoking distance from buildings. If it is beyond the immediate entrance to the building, the smoker will be forced to go and smoke in his car, anyway. Let's use our resources on other things.
Smoke free campus is a great idea, I think we should do it. I think we need to also make it tabacco free as well.
Smoke free is the healthy way to be!
Smoke free or bust.
Smoke-free is great because I have found that smokers take more breaks during the day or split their two 15-minute breaks up so they can step away four times a day. I don't think this is right.
Smokers aren't as bad here as other campuses; however, I don't like "running the gauntlet" to get into a building when smokers hover around the doors.
Smokers can smoke at HOME in their houses. It's time we promote good health and well-being for all. Many restaurants have now gone smoke free so we can follow their good example. We only have one life to live!! We need to use it wisely. Thank you for this opportunity.
Smokers currently don't follow the rules and smoke in some buildings and right outside of others. Completely smoke free would be wonderful!
Smokers should be able to smoke outside, I just don't like them being in front of the doorways where you have to walk through the smoke to get into a building. I also don't believe in building a special place for smokers to congregate. NMU promotes health & wellness. Let's not encourage unhealthy habits.
Smoking areas are like have an area in the pool to pee.
Smoking has been proven to be very unhealthy..,shortens lives. I think NMUshould do all in its power to "wean" students off smoking by not providing space for them to smoke. When students smoke..,nonsmokers near them smoke too.
Smoking in cars with windows closed greatly increases the risks to the smoker (and any non-smoker with them). It would seem that such a policy would not be consistent with good health principles.
Smoking in personal vehicles should be allowed regardless if windows are open or closecd.
Smoking is a personal choice. I just want enforcement of the policy that people must remain a specified distance from doorways and building air intakes. The university doesn't have a way to enforce this policy how does it even think it can enforce the policy that people can't smoke in their own vehicles while driving or parked on university property. It's ridiculous to adopt a policy that is at best difficult to enforce and takes resources away from the main concerns ... like ticketing the students that park in faculty lots and make our mornings miserable. Why doesn't the university spend this much time and effort considering the educational environment and how much money they are not spending on education, faculty, staff, and educational resources and less time worried about the smoking policy? I suspect it has something to do with politics. Keep the smokers away from the buildings and I will be more than happy. I will just continue to avoid them by not talking to them, walking around them, and holding my breath for the few seconds it takes to pass them. Also, it would help if the snow removal personal didn't bury all the cigarette disposal containers on campus.
Smoking is an addiction that can be quite difficult to break. The university needs to offer supports and services that would assist faculty, staff, and students in breaking their addiction as a part of implementing a non smoking policy.
Smoking is an important public health issue. The campus should move as close to smoke-free as possible.
Smoking is hazardous to everyone. It would do everyone a favor to ban it on campus.
Smoking is no longer acceptable. Its poison to all in the area and should not be tolerated by anyone.
Smoking is not attractive and I dislike smelling like smoke. However, I am not in favor of banning smoking outdoors. I do find cigarette butts scattered on the ground to be disgusting. Perhaps one goal should be to increase numbers of places for people to dispose of butts. I also feel those who smoke should move further away from doorways so those coming and going won't have to smell (and smell like) cigarettes. Still, I feel society has done enough by moving smokers outdoors and imposing steep taxes on cigarettes. Beyond that (and perhaps some educational programs) we should let the smokers toke away and stop making them feel more alienated than they already are.
Smoking is still legal, and it's also addictive. Smokers WILL smoke. (I am an ex-smoker.) To ban it entirely seems unwise. Did we learn nothing from Prohibition?
Smoking outside is OK
Smoking shelters are better than free range smoking outside if NMU does not adopt a campus-wide smoke free policy. Smokers are not good about throwing the butts in the trash in the winter, so if shelters are built at least the butts will be contained to certain areas outside of buildings entrance. Our campus looks terrible in the spring when one can see all of the butts on the ground after the snow melts.
Smoking shelters would solve the doorway problem (smoking at doorways can be prohibited with shelters). There is no need to penalize smokers, or create a situation where tickets, fines, or arrests of our students for smoking inappropriately would be rampant. How represseive a school do you want NMU to be?
Smoking, although addictive, is a personal choice. We can certainly ban smoking in and around all campus buildings, but once a person is truely outside, and away from a building, we can not rightfully dicate what they can and cannot do. Of course, on the flip side, I say if they want to smoke let them freeze outside and do it. I am against the shelter idea.
somehow a fund raiser by the smokers should be undertaken to help fund the shelters - if they can afford to smoke, they can afford to help support building shelters
the 30 feet rule from buildings is not being enforced. as a heart patient, the last thing I need is to inhale somebody's second hand smoke on my way into work. Smoke free would be welcomed.
The barricades at Jamrich are SOOO embarrassing!!! They need to go away ASAP! It looks like a war front / fort or something. If only more emergency exit lights could be installed in Jamrich lecture halls as fast as the barricades were introduced.
The big question is enforcement. As it is now, Public Safety rarely gets out of their cars and walks about campus. Smokers habitually violate the 30 foot rule by smoking next to doors and littering with butts. If campus goes smoke free, we need consistent enforcement.
The costs associated with smoking (health, facility maintenance and staff-time spent discussing this subject) are well documented. NMU needs to decide how best to spend limited resources and by supporting smoking, we divert money and time from more critical projects. A smoke-free campus is consistent with the values we teach at NMU. There is much to gain by taking this overdue step.
The current policy of not smoking near doorways is good enough but the problem is it's unenforceable. Are faculty/staff and students supposed to call Public Safety on violaters? By the time officers get there the violaters are gone. I fear a smoke free campus will hurt enrollment and again is unenforcable.
The danger to non-smokers resulting from second-hand smoke from smokers who outdoors is less than trivial, far less than many other sources of air pollution such as car exhaust (ban cars from campus?) or wood/coal fired power plants (NMU wouldn't have one of those, would we?). This is really about imposing some people's morality on others. This type of holier-than-thou dictation of lifestyle goes beyond what should be acceptable in our society. What's next? Shall we ban greasy and sugary food? Perhaps bad TV? The smoking ban is a chivalrous idea, but we really don't need to force adults into living their lives as we see fit.
The employees of MGH should not be allowed to come across the street and stand on university property to smoke near the UC parking lots.
The fact is that there will always be smokers on campus and if we do not provide a place for them to smoke they will sneak smokes in places where they should not. I often enter stairwells and out of the way restrooms and know that someone has recently sneaked a smoke in there, especially during the cold winter when they do not want to stand outside in the cold to smoke. Although I hate cigarette smoke, we need to provide a place for smokers to smoke. I actually think that NMU would be at a greater risk for accidental cigarette fires if the campus were to go smoke free than if we have designated smoking areas and enforce them.
The gradual implentation sounds reasonable. I am delighted by the thought of being smoke free. Thank you!
The key word here is FREE. Free=freedon. Smoke-free should also be free to smoke. If we eliminate the freedom to smoke will we hire Smoke Police for enforcemen? What punishment awaits those who refuse to comply? Does second hand smoke in the great outdoors impose a serious risk to non-smokers; e.g. enough harm to remove another's freedom to smoke?
The shelter idea seems like a reasonable way to try to accommodate smokers and non-smokers like me who can't stand the smoke and who don't want the exposure to the toxins; however, people who walk into a room after they have been smoking in a shelter will likely reek of smoke (just like the person I found myself riding in the elevator with this morning; I normally take the stairs but I had to bring a cart upstairs and therefore I had to use the elevator). Thank you to whoever is spear-heading this initiative.
The Smoke-free idea is a strong move and I support it. I would have a higher priority support for a car-free campus. There seems to be a lot of private vehicles on campus. I feel that the cost of accomodating vehicles will increase and the impact of exhaust emissions may be a greater health risk to others than the impact of smokers gathering 30 feet from building entrances. Certainly, accomodating increases in vehicles (i.e. paving green-space for parking lots or building visually negative garage-towers) is not a good fit for the "greening" of the campus. I walk exclusively on campus and encounter few difficulties other than waiting at crosswalks for traffic to clear.
The smoking shelters probably would not get used by the majority of smokers and be a waste of money. The smokers should be able to smoke in their own cars if they so choose.I have noticed that smokers from the hospital have not been picking up their cigarette butts. Also in the summer if your car is parked over near there smoking area your car gets the smoke smell in it from open windows in the car. When it's as hot as it was some of the days you must leave your windows cracked open.
There doesn't seem any question about this being the safe and healthy thing to do. The research is incontrovertible: second hand smoke causes lung cancer. From the university's point of view it would seem to be a liability issue. Then there's the whole issue of sheer unpleasantness: walkiing through clouds of smoke when entering or exiting buildings, trying to work with "smoky" students in close proximity, grading papers that reek, etc.
There is a tendency for smoking related issues to be elevated to an emotional level. A University should be willing to address all risky behaviors (health risk as well as social risk) with equity. Are we as the NMU community willing to address other legal drug health risks (alcohol, smokeless tobacco, prescription/nonprescription drugs, caffeine, and nicotine) with the same fervor exhibited by the anti-smoking movements? We should - health risks are health risks. We should also be willing to address the social risk of our risky behaviors (in smoking arguments, this is the "second hand smoke" argument). As the NMU community, we should be willing to address the social risk of all risky behaviors with the same intensity we exhibit toward smoking. No smoking anywhere on campus so we don't have to deal with second hand smoke? Would we be willing to say no alcohol consumption on campus so we don't have to deal with intoxicated persons on campus, either in dorms, on sidewalks, or in vehicles? For the record, I am not a smoker, nor am I a former smoker. Smoking is an optional legal activity and is an exercise of our freedoms (although I feel it is an unwise exercise of freedom). What we choose to do with the issue of smoking at NMU we should also be willing to do with other health or social risk activities. Maybe we should consider accomodating those who currently practice the risky behavior and educate them out of the practice. After all, if nobody chooses to smoke in our society, do we need to ban smoking?
This is a case of over government reach. Providing limited space outdoors away from doors is acceptable response but not a complete ban on all smoking on campus. What one does inside their car is none of the administration's business. Ban smoking 50 feet from all doors. Enforce it. Keep your noses out of people's private lives and out of their cars.
This is a great idea. Smokers don't care about smoking around non-smokers and that is aweful. I know a lot of people with asthma that is bodered with smoke from sigaretts.
This is going too far. First it was offices, with smoking still allowed in lounges and a few other public areas. Then lounges became segregated (smokers and non-smokers). Next, separate smoking areas were designated. Then public buildings went smoke-free, and smokers had to move outside. Then the zealots complained about walking past smokers, so the 30-foot rule was imposed. Now you want to ban smoking in vehicles? What's next? This is going way beyond the health issue of second-hand smoke. It's become a moral judgment about the addiction of smoking. I'm an ex smoker, and I vowed when I quit that I wouldn't become one of the obnoxious, holier-than-thou zealots who want to ban smoking everywhere instead of holding their breath for a few seconds to get through a smoke cloud, or staying out of bars and restaurants where they know smoking is allowed! How soon will you be imposing your morality on folks who don't eat properly or thrill-seekes who take risks? Or how about motorcylce riders who don't wear helmets or folks who don't wear seat belts? These poeple cost us lots of money in increased health care and long-term care for diabetes, closed-head injuries, physical therapy and such. And how about people who don't support clean air initiatives. After all, their ignorance might just be exposing all of us to a higher risk of lung cancer.
This is long overdue. Unfortunately, NMU (Public Safety and supervisors) has not enforced the current smoking policy so it begs the question as to how it will be enforced when the entire campus is smoke free.
walking to class behind someone who smokes sucks...
We all know that smoking (as well as second-hand smoke) is not healthy. Non-smokers, people who are trying to live a healthy lifestyle, should not have to endure second-hand smoke. Thus, I don't support the idea of making smoking easier for the smokers by putting up special shelters just for them. I also don’t support letting them smoke in their cars with the windows closed. Have you ever seen a smoker smoke in their car with the windows closed? The windows are always open. As it stands they don't comply with the existing rule of 30 feet from the building. I sincerely doubt they would obey any other rule. As I see it, it’s completely smoke free or forget it.
We currently have a problem on campus with people smoking near ventilation intakes for various buildings.I have smelled it inside of several of the buildings that I work in.Also,the wind can blow smoke into these ventilation intakes,so we must be careful as to the placement of smoking shelters if we go that way.
We have to accommodate ALL students, staff, and faculty. I only support smoking bans inside buildings. Smoking should be permitted outside (away from doors) and in private vehicles (with windows open or closed), where the smoke has no impact on others. Let's try TOLERANCE as our next AQIP action plan!
We know that smoking and second-hand smoking is dangerous to our health. As an educational institution, I don't understand why we can't make it more difficult for people to make bad choices regarding their health. On a personal note, I cannot use the closet in my office to hang my coat because of the smoke smell that gets transferred to it from the coat of the smoker in our office. After work, my coat smelled like I had been to a bar due to her smoke breaks throughout the day. Disgusting smell!!! I now put my coat under my desk.
We need to try and continue to get people healthy and obtain the national goals. I believe if people want to quit smoking they will seek assistance. It is our role to help them obtain that help at an afforable price.
We should do everything possible to eliminate the self-destructive, vile, disgusting and economically ruinous habit of tobacco use. People who are smart enough to be at a University are smart enough to realize the idiocy of smoking. Let's help them to break this horrible habit.
What percent of our students smoke? I think your enrollment will drop. I would support rather an actually ENFORCED ban (with big fines!) on smoking within 30 feet of buildings and in all public indoor spaces (the cluster around doorways is the problem). I've never seen anyone given a ticket for smoking too close and they all do it!--why don't we just enforce our own policies?
While a smoke free campus would be great. I understand the stress levels of students and smoking, while a bad choice, is the only release that some students have. smoking outside and away from buildings doesn't really bother me. I think that a gradual plan to go smoke free would be the best course of action. that way people would have an easier time understanding and excepting the new restrictions.
While I do not like being around people who are smoking, I do think that they have a right to smoke. Also, people who have a dependency will smoke anyway because they have to. Having designated areas outside and away from the main doors and traffic should be allowed. I do support smoke-free buildings but feel it is not NMU's place to fringe on people's rights.
While I hate cigarette smoke, I have to say that it is someone right to chose whether or not they smoke. As long as it is prohibited in buildings, I don't see the current policy as problematic.
While I know smoking shelters would be extra cost and work for NMU, I support adding them to campus as a way to get the smokers out of the entryways to buildings. Smoke is a migraine trigger for me. So walking through the smokers to get to the entrance of a campus building means a higher use of sick leave and a higher use of healthcare. I strongly support a smoke-free campus.
While I realize that people are capable of making their own choices in regard to health, I do think that it would be a positive move for NMU to support a smoke-free environment. If we are going to be smoke-free, I don't believe that smoking shelters should be included in the plan. I do wonder about how this can be inforced. Thank you for a move in the right direction.
While I would love the idea of the entire campus being smoke-free, I think it would be a big challenge to enforce a totally non-smoking campus. I can think of several faculty/staff members who would still smoke on campus. Would Public Safety be out issuing tickets? Highly unlikely, they aren't out ticketing vehicles enough, I don't see them cracking down on the smokers.
While I would support a smoke free campus, the idea of smoking shelters, placed away from doorways and popular walkway openings, would be okay.
While this is a great idea health wise, I think it unfair and I'm a non-smoker. I would propose the smoking shelters would be the best idea, and if someone is caught smoking by doorways or windows or outside of the smoking shelters, that they receive a ticket, first offense $25.00 and if able to track it, second offense $50, like the seat belt tickets. I work on the first floor of a building and when they smoke outside the building the wind brings the smoke into my window, I have asthma and it makes it hard to breathe. I would hope that some kind of conclusion can be reached that benefits and keeps all of us happy. I've been at NMU For 18 years and hope to retire from here.
who would enforce a smoking ban? there is already a 30ft ban that is totally disregarded. people should not be exposed to secondhand smoke so let's focus on a reasonable rule (like the 30 ft ban) and try enforcing that.
Why not just enforce the rules we have now? I think making parking lots and private vehicles "smoke free" is an infringement on people's rights. Smoke is sufficiently dispersed in the atmosphere in a parking lot to not be a danger to others.
Why wait till 2010, you know second-hand smoke kills? You know that now, and a lawsuit tomorrow would drive that point home only too well!! Legally, you can't afford to wait.
will marquette general hospital workers be allowed to smoke on our campus, as they are now???? what about conference attendees, if students and employees are limited, wouldn't the rules be the same for everyone?
Yea! Smoke Free - Save my health!
Years ago people smoked at their desks, in the elevators, etc. I believe people have become far too sensitive. I do not like smoke but I think we are completely taking away peoples rights if they cannot even smoke outside.
You can not impose on limits on personal liberties to smoke in one's own vehicle with or without the windows closed or open. When a person purchases a car, he or she purchases the right to do what he or she wants in that car within federal and state legal limits. I would recommend changing your definition of a smoke free environment at NMU to include only those areas in the public domain - public buildings, common property areas, and the like. Areas in which smokers and non-smokers MUST share in order to go to and from campus to learn on the NMU campus are examples. Privately owned cars with smokers driving or riding inside of those cars impose negligible costs on non-smokers. Non-smokers do not have to ride in cars with smokers. There are relatively inexpensive travel alternatives that are 100 percent smoke free. BTW, who would enforce the smoking ordinance in private cars driving on the campus of NMU? What would the enforcement cost be? Who would benefit from that policy and its enforcement? How many students and what value do they place on that smoke free item? How would that benefit compare to the cost of enforcement?
You can take a smoker out of a building, and place them in a shelter, car, etc. BUT...when they come back into the building and ride up the elevator with you, or sit next to you, it is still very noticeable. Also, the idea of a bunch of people huddled in a shelter reminds me of loitering kids outside a convenience store - it's an eye sore and would look tacky, not to mention publicly humiliating for those choosing to smoke. I lived in Madison, Wisconsin, when it decided to implement a smoking ban. They did it cold-turkey, all at once. There was about six months of grumbling from bar owners and citizens, but after that, it seemed everyone went about their business. My recommendation is do it all at once and get it over with. The 'slow bleed' will only irritate people and provide more time to fight, appeal the decision.